Yamaki Folk 12-String

Deluxe Folk Dreadnought, MIJ, 1972. Appears to be hand made due to the chiselled look on the braces. Bought used, scuffs and scratches, one significant ding on the top. Top appears to be two ply spruce, could easily be mistaken for a solid top, perhaps it is as it sounds like a solid top. Grain on top is tight at the center and the width expands at the edges with subtle flame throughout. Back and sides are rosewood and bookmatched excellently. You can barely see the seam, looks almost like a solid piece. Tuners are of fair quality, one is rather hard to turn but they hold tune fairly well. Original truss rod cover is missing, replaced with a metal ornate plate. Nut is made of metal, 0-Fret. Bridge is adjustable although I haven't tried to adjust it. Neck is 2 (I looked for 3 pieces and could only find one seam) piece mahogany and dark stained. Looks almost like rosewood. White plastic binding with 3 black stripes on the front, solid white on back. Frets are nicely dressed with minimul wear. Fretboard is a quality piece of rosewood. Bridge is a lighter rosewood. Black plastic pickguard. Plain looking rosette. White plastic bridge pins. Saddle looks like tusq (probably not original). Slight bulge behind bridge. I guess this is common with these guitars.

This is why I had to have this guitar. I compared this to several other 12 strings in the shop. It only competes tonally with the high end stuff. It left all the other cheapies in the dust and cost less than some of them. What a bargain. This guitar reminds me of my long gone Larrivee C-10 although not the same body style, projection and balance but it's very good for what it is. I'm in love with the sound of this guitar. Perhaps it's the aged spruce at work here but it has some real mojo going.

Factory set up? I think these early Yamaki's were hand made. Anyway who knows how it left the shop. That was long ago. All I can say is this is the easiest 12 string I have ever played. Neck is perfect after all these years. Only the slight amount of relief showing as you sight it. Just buttery smooth. Only problem is fret buzzing on the 13th on both E string sets. Shop owner is going to correct that at no charge. Otherwise I'd give a 10 here.

It's held together this long and despite the bulging, I think it's pretty much done what it's going to do. Very solid. Not worried about it. This is a home guitar anyway. I'll take good care of it. Tuners will likely be changed at some point.

Company is long gone. A good local luthier is all I need anyway.

Can't give it a ten because it's not a perfect guitar. What it is, is probably the best you could ever hope for given the price. I'd feel terrible if it turned up missing as these aren't the easiest guitars to find. I love the tone, don't care for the metal nut and 0-fret. Cheap parts can be replaced anyway. It's a keeper I'm not parting with mine.

Made in Japan, 1973. No way of knowing for sure what it's made of, but looks like spruce top and rosewood sides. Gloss finish, looks a lot like a Martin, with a slightly more rounded headstock. Decent tuners. I got it with a case, but it isn't original. Very simple, no inlays, Yamaki decal at the top, lots of scratches (it's an eBay buy). However...

...Hot damn! This guitar sounds beautiful. Loads of sustain. I looked at a Gibson B-25 (I think), a Gibson Blueridge, several Alvarez and Washburns, and some Taylors--this is the best sounding, except for the high-end Taylors. Warm and bright at once, a nice clear tone. A 9 because the tuners are merely OK and don't keep it in tune for long.

It's 30 years old, and the frets (which I think are original) are neatly dressed, but as low as they can go. So the nut is also filed down pretty deep. Both will have to be replaced soon. The action was low for my taste but, lo and behold, the bridge is adjustable. What a perk! The bridge is not, surprisingly, lifting, but there is a bit of a hump behind it, which I'm a little worried about. I've got it tuned down to D. The binding is mediocre, sometimes messy, and the soundhole seems to be puckering up slightly. The guitar is lightweight but, as I've said, deeply resonant.

If it's lasted this long, it will stay solid on my watch. It's my only 12-string, so a backup is a non-issue. Seems good to me.

Please!

This guitar has no right to be this awesome. God only knows why people don't collect the suckers. Maybe they do. Anyhow, I will invest in the refret and new nut and have the bulge attended to--even if I pay $500 for all that work, I'll be happy. Nobody else I know has one of these, and I feel privileged every time I look at it. Seriously, a great buy--keep your eyes open for one!